An American film crew was in Northern Ireland last week to shoot footage for new TV ads which will be used by Tourism Ireland to attract golfers to come and play Northern Ireland’s top courses.

The ads will be seen on the popular Golf Channel, as well as on influential golf websites in the United States and on Tourism Ireland’s website, Ireland.com. As well as filming at Royal Portrush, the crew also visited the Bushmills Inn, Royal County Down Golf Club and Glassdrumman Lodge in Annalong.

Golf holidays in Northern Ireland are a major focus for Tourism Ireland in the United States, and in other key markets around the world, and the organisation has a busy programme of promotions under way to grow the number of golf tourists in 2013 and beyond. Tourism Ireland is working hard to drive home the message that a golfing holiday here is about much more than a round of 18 holes – the combination of Northern Ireland’s world-class golf and our unique brand of hospitality plays a key role in attracting golfers to come here.

Alison Metcalfe, Tourism Ireland’s head of North America, said: “Northern Ireland boasts some fantastic golf courses and we are constantly updating our photos and footage – to make sure we are showcasing our golf and the area in the best possible way. We have been undertaking a busy golf promotional programme this year, which includes capitalising on the success of our major golf champions as ambassadors for Northern Ireland and the island of Ireland. The US is a very important market for golf, and for tourism to Northern Ireland in general, and we in Tourism Ireland are pulling out all the stops to win business and to keep the destination ‘top of mind’ with the US consumer.”